Magnetic holder



1961 J. E. DUNKELBERGER ETAL 2,9 ,992

MAGNETIC HOLDER Filed Dec. 23, 1957 Mm Q s S E Y R RB E 0 EL N T BE R N &K O E N T V KU T. m M A R N E K H mm T JB MAGNETIC HOLDER Jack E. Dunkelberger and Byron C. Dunlrelherger, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The American Display Com" pany, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Qhio Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,438

11 Claims. (Ci. 211--87) This invention relates to a magnetic holder. This invention relates more particularly to a magnetic holder for magnetically attaching magnetizable articles to a magnetizable surface.

Magnetic holders have been devised which magnetically retain various magnetizable articles. Also, holders have been devised which are adapted to magnetically attech to a magnetizable surface such as a wall or panel or the like. However, no single unit magnetic holder has been devisedwhich is capable of magnetically retaining articles while also being magnetically attached to a wall or surface.

Hence, an object of this invention is to provide a magnetic holder which is capable of retaining magnetizable articles while the holder is magnetically attached to a surface such as a wall or panel or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which will not easily slip or slide upon the surface to which the holder is magnetically attached.

Another object is to provide a magnetic holder from which articles will not readily slip or slide.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which may be produced in comparatively small physical size.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which may be produced at low cost and is long lived.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which may be produced in various attractive arrangements and colors.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a holder which is light in weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which readily adapts itself to the contour of a magnetizable surface even if the contour of the magnetizable surface is somewhat irregular.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a magnetic holder which may more firmly attach itself to a magnetizable surface over a period of time.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing a magnetic holder of this invention magnetically attached to a magnetizable surface and with objects magnetically retained by the holder.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of magnetic blocks of a holder of this invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing a modification of a holder of this invention with the holder magnetically attached to a surface and with a plurality of articles magnetically retained by the holder.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing a holder of this invention magnetically attached Patented Jan. 3, 19%! 2 to a surface and with an object magnetically retained by the holder.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a magnetic holder of this invention comprises one or more magnetic blocks such as the magnetic blocks it).

Each of the magnetic blocks it may consist of any suitable material such as ceramic material. Ceramic material of the barium ferrite type has been found very satisfactory. Each of the magnetic blocks it? is magnetized in four substantially equal sections, as best shown in Figure 2. Preferably, each of the magnetic blocks 14 is magnetized so that sections having the same polarity are at opposite portions of the block, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, on one of the side surfaces of each block It) the upper section has a north polarity and the lower section has a south polarity; on the opposite side surface of the block Iii the upper section has a south polarity and the lower section has a north polarity. Thus, each side surface of each block it) has a north polarity section and a south polarity section.

A series of blocks it are disposed in substantial alignment with each north pole section of each block in alignment with a north pole section of the other blocks and with each south pole section of each block in alignment with a south pole section of the other blocks, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the blocks it) have an aligned group of north pole sections at the front surface thereof and an aligned group of south pole sections at the front surface thereof. Likewise, there is an aligned group of north pole sections at the rear surface of the blocks 10 and an aligned group of south pole sections at the rear surface of the blocks 19.

A holder 15 of this invention is shsown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure l, a series of blocks til are aligned in abutting relationship with all of the north pole sections in alignment and all of the south pole sections in alignment. A strip or bar 14 of magnetizable mate rial is disposed in engagement with the upper section of each block along the front surface thereof. Likewise, a strip or bar of magnetizable material 16 is disposed in engagement with the lower section of the front surface of each of theblocks 1d. The bars or strips M and 16 serve as magnetizable pole pieces, joining similar pole sections of each of the blocks it Any suitable nonmagnetic spacer Zil is disposed in engagement with the front surface of each of the blocks 1% and intermediate the bars 14 and 16.

The blocks 10 may be retained in fixed relation one with respect to the other by any suitable means. .Herein an elongate non-magnetic cover member 24 serves to enoase the aligned blocks lid and the bars Hand 16 with the non-magnetic spacer 20, as shown in Figure 1. The cover member 24, as shown in Figure 1, may consist of a soft or pliable material such as plastic or rubber material or the like. A material is selected which has a rather high coefficient of friction to prevent slippage of the holder as the cover member 24 engages a magnetizable surface such as a steel wall or panel or the like, referred to in Figure l by numeral 3t The friction material also, prevents slippage of articles retained by the holder. The rear surface of the cover member 24 is thus firmly magnetically secured to the steel wall or magnetizable surface Ell as the magnetic blocks lit establish a magnetic flux in the steel wall 3t Preferab1y,the thickness of the walls of the cover member 2d are very thin so that the magnetic flux path between the blocks it} and magnetizable members is a minimum.

therein readily adapts itself to the contour of the steel aeeaeea v wall 30 even though the contour of the steel wall 30 may be somewhat irregular. Also, the wall of the pliable cover member 24 may be somewhat squeezed to a lesser thickness over a period of time so that the space between the magnetic blocks 10 and the steel wall 30 may be reduced so that the holder becomes more firmly secured to the wall over the period of time.

The magnetic holder 15, while firmly magnetically retained upon the magnetizable wall 30, is also capable of firmly retaining magnetizable articles such as articles 34. The articles 3% are placed in engagement with the portion of the cover member 24 which covers the magnetizable bars or strips 14 and 16.

In Figure 3 a holder 39 is shown which comprises a group of the magnetic blocks 10 which are in spacedapart alignment with spacer blocks 40, separating the blocks 10. The spacer blocks 40 may be of any suitable non-magnetic material. The spacer blocks 40 may be of low cost material so that the longer holder 39 of Figure 3 is constructed at only slightly greater cost than the holder 15 of Figure 1. A magnetizable bar or strip 42 extends along the upper section of the front surface of the blocks 10 and a magnetizable bar or strip 44 extends along the bottom section of the front surface of the blocks 10. The bars or strips 42 and 44 join like pole sections of all the magnetic blocks 10. A non-magnetic spacer strip 4-6 is disposed intermediate the bars or strips 4-2 and 44, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6.

A suitable non-magnetic cover member 50 encloses the blocks 10, the bars 42 and 4-4, and the spacer strip 46. Herein the cover member 50 is shown as being any suitable non-magnetic metallic material, such as brass or copper or aluminum or the like. Preferably the surface of the cover member 50 is roughened in order to increase the frictional forces between the cover member 543 and any magnetizable surface engaged by the holder 39. Thus. the holder 39 is firmly magnetically secured to the wall 52 with the rearward portion of the cover member 50 in engagement with the wall 52. Magnetizable articles 34 may thus be magnetically retained at the forward portion of the holder 39 with the front surface of the cover member h along any portion of the length thereof.

A holder of this invention may also comprise a group of the magnetic blocks lltl retained in fixed relation by any suitable means, as shown in Figure 5, without the use of bars or strips or pole pieces across either the front or rear surface of the blocks 10. As shown in Figure 5, a series of the magnetic blocks are retained by means of a suitable non-magnetic cover or casing 68. The rearward portion of the casing 60 is in engagement with any magnetizable surface. The forward portion of the casing 60' is adapted to retain one or more magnetizable articles 34 as the magnetic flux passes from the blocks 10 to the articles 34.

Thus, it is understood that the magnetic holder of this invention is capable of firmly attaching magnetizabl articles to a magnetizable surface. The holder of this invention is firmly magnetically attachable to a magnetizable surface. Also, a holder of this invention is capable of firmly magnetically retaining articles having magnetizable portions.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An attachment device for magnetizable members comprising a plurality of magnetic bodies, each of the bodies having all portions thereof integral, each of the bodies having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface of each of the bodies having a north pole section and a south pole section, the front surface of each of the bodies having a north pole section and a south pole section, a plurality of strips of magnetizable material, there being at least two of the strips engaging one surface of all of the bodies so that one strip engages a north pole section and the other strip engages a south pole section of one surface of each body, each of the strips having an engagement surface which is smaller in area than the pole sections which it engages so that there is a concentration of magnetic flux at the engagement surface of the strips when a magnetizable member bridges the strips.

2. A holder for attaching magnetizable articles to a magnetizable surface comprising a plurality of similar magnetized blocks, each of said b'ocks having at least four portions, each of the blocks having all portions thereof integral, two of the portions having north pole magnetization and two of the portions having south pole magnetization, there being a north and a south pole portion at one surface of each block and a north and a south pole portion at another surface of each block, nonmagnetizable means retaining the plurality of blocks in aligned relation so that each north pole portion of each block is substantially aligned with a north pole portion of an adjacent block and each south pole portion of each block is aligned with a south pole portion of an adjacent block, a plurality of strips of magnetizable material, there being one of the strips in engagement with a north pole portion of each of the blocks, there being one of the strips in engagement with a south pole portion of each of the blocks, each of the strips having an engagement surface which is smaller in area than the pole portions which it engages so that the magnetic flux of the poles is concentrated at the engagement surfaces of the strips, the blocks being adapted to retain magnetizable articles as the articles are positioned in close proximity to the said strips of material, the bocks beng magnetically attached to a magnetizable surface with a north pole portion and a south pole portion of each block facing the magnetizable surface and in close proximity thereto.

3. A magnetic holder for attaching magnetizable devices to a surface of magnetizable material comprising a plurality of magnetized blocks, each of the bocks having at least four magnetized sections, there being two sections having north polarity and two sections having south polarity, each of the blocks having substantially flat opposite surfaces, each of the surfaces having a north polarity section and a south polarity section, a non-magnetizable cover member retaining the blocks in aligned relation so that said surfaces thereof are in alignment, the cover member having substantially fiat opposite walls covering opposite surfaces of the bocks, a pair of strips of magnetizable material within the cover member in engagement with one of the walls of the cover member and in engagement with one of the surfaces of each block, one of the strips being in engagement with a north polarity section of each of the blocks, one of the strips being in engagement with a south polarity setion of each of the blocks, the wall of the cover member which covers the surfaces of the blocks opposite the strips being in engagement with a magnetizable surface for magnetically attaching the holder to the magnetizable surface, the wall of the cover member which covers the strips being adapted to receive and retain magnetizable articles as magnetic flux passes from the strips to the articles.

4. A holder for magnetizable articles comprising a plurality of magnet blocks, each of the blocks having at least four polarized sections, each of the blocks having a front and a back surface, each surface having a north and a south pole, the north pole at one surface being in a similar position to a south pole at the opposite surface, the blocks being arranged so that the front surfaces of all the blocks are in substantially the same plane and so that the back surfaces of all the blocks are in substantially the same plane, with like poles of the blocks being in alignment, a plurality of magnetizable strips at one surface of the blocks, each of the strips being in engagement with like pole of the surface, magnetizable articles being retained by the blocks as the articles are positioned adjacent the strips, the opposite surface of the blocks being retained by a magnetizable wall as the surface of the blocks is positioned in juxtaposed relation to the wall.

5. A device for magnetically attaching a magnetizable article to a surface of magnetizable material comprising a plurality of magnetized bodies, each of the bodies having all portions thereof integral, each of the bodies having a plurality of south polarity sections and a plurality of north polarity sections, magnetizable means connecting a north polarity section of one of the bodies to a north polarity section of the other bcdies and in engagement therewith, magnetizable means connecting a south polarity section of one of the bodies to a south polarity section of the other bodies and in engagement therewith, each of the bodies having a north polarity section and a south polarity section in the same plane and engageable with a surface for magnetic attachment thereto, each of the magnetizable means having an engagement surface which is smaller in area than the area of the polarity sections which it engages so that magnetic flux is concentrated at the engagement surfaces, a magnetizable article being retained in fixed relationship with respect to said engagement surfaces of the magnetizable means by the concentrated magnetic flux flowing from the engagement surfaces of the magnetizable means to the article.

6. A holder for attaching magnetizable articles to a magnetizable surface comprising a plurality of similar magnetized blocks, each of said blocks having at least four portions, all of the portions being integral, two of the portions having north pole magnetization and two of the portions having south pole magnetization, there being a north and a south pole portion at one surface of each block and a north and a south pole portion at another surface of each block, a plurality of strips of magnetizable material, there being one of the strips in engagement with a north pole portion of each of the blocks, there being one of the strips in engagement with a south pole portion of each of the blocks, the blocks being adapted to retain magnetizable articles as the artic'es are positioned adjacent the engagement surfaces of said strips of material and form a bridge between the strips, each of the strips having an engagement surface which has a smaller area than the pole portions with which it is in engagement so that there is a concentration of magnetic flux at the engagement surfaces when an article bridges the strips during retaining of the article, the blocks being magnetically attached to a magnetizable surface with a north pole portion and a south pole portion of each block facing the magnetizable surface and in close proximity thereto.

7. A device for attaching magnetizable articles to a magnetizable surface comprising a plurality of magnetized blocks, each of the blocks having all portions thereof integral, each of the blocks having parallel opposed surfaces, each of the blocks having at least two north pole sections and two south pole sections, there being at least one north pole section and one south pole section at each surface of each of the blocks, a non-magnetic retainer member firmly holding the blocks in aligned relation, the blocks being so arranged that north pole sections are in alignment and south pole sections are in alignment, a plurality of strips of magnetizable material intermediate the retainer member and the blocks and in engagement with one surface of each of the blocks, there being a strip in engagement with each north pole section of said one surface of each block, there being a strip in engagement with each south pole section of said one surface of each block, each of the strips having an engagement surface which is smaller in area than the pole sections which it engages so that there is a concentration of magnetic flux at the engagement surface of each of the strips when an article forms a bridge between the strips during retaining of the article.

8. A device for attaching magnetizable articles to a magnetizable surface comprising a plurality of magnetized blocks, each of the blocks having all portions thercof integral, each of the blocks having parallel opposed surfaces, each of the blocks having at least two north pole sections and two south pole sections, there being at least one north pole section and one south pole section at each surface of each of the blocks, a cover member firmly retaining the blocks in aligned abutting relation, the blocks being so arranged that north pole sections of the blocks are in alignment and south pole sections of the blocks are in alignment, a plurality of nonmagnetic spacer bodies separating the blocks one from the other, a plurality of strips of magnetizable material within the cover member and in engagement with one surface of each of the blocks, there being a strip in engagement with each north pole section of said one surface of each block, there being a strip in engagement with each south pole section of said one surface of each block.

9. In a holder for a magnetizable article, a magnetic block having a plurality of surfaces, all of the portions of the block being integral, at least two of the surfaces of the block having a north polarity section and a south polarity section, a pair of strips of magnetizable material, each of the strips having a surface in engagement with one of the surfaces of the block, there being a strip of magnetizable material engaging a north polarity section and a strip of magnetizable material engaging a south polarity section, each of the strips having a surface out of engagement with the block which surface is smaller in area than the area of the section of the block which the strip engages so that there is a concentration of magnetic flux flowing through the strips when a magnetizable article bridges the strips during retaining of the article.

10. In a magnetic assembly, a magnetic block having a pair of opposed substantially parallel surfaces, all portions of the block being integral, each of said surfaces of the block having at least one north polarity section and one south polarity section, the polarity sections being contiguous, a strip of magnetizable material in engagement with one of the surfaces, the other surface of the block being adapted to magnetically attach the block to a magnetizable surface for support of the block.

11. In a holder for a magnetizable article, a magnetic block having a plurality of surfaces, all of the portions of the block being integral, at least two of the surfaces of the block having a north polarity section and a south polarity section, said polarity sections being contiguous, a pair of strips of magnetizable material, each of the strips of magnetizable material having a surface in engagement with one of the surfaces of the block, there being a strip of magnetizable material engaging a north polarity section and a strip of magnetizable material engaging a south polarity section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,414,653 Lookholder Jan. 21, 1947 2,448,692 Teetor Sept. 7, 1948 2,565,625 Phelon Aug. 28, 1951 2,572,514 Phelon Oct. 23, 1951 2,580,099 Jaeger Dec. 25, 1951 2,641,793 Wilm June 16, 1953 2,657,342 Stem Oct. 27, 1953 2,733,113 Humbargar Jan. 31, 1956 2,808,281 Poe Oct. 1, 1957 2,869,047 Smit et a1. Jan. 13, 1959 

